St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-19
The Board of Education Makes Reply to
Charges of Discrimination in
Giving Contracts.
Supt. Kiehle Sizes Up the State Text
Book Law, and the Books
Now in Use.
Citizens on Dayton's Bluff Are.Crying
For a Cable Line--School Inn
provement Bids.
Rotunda Riff Raf.-A Good Day For
Gophers--Odds and Ends--Mon-
days Local Notes.
The BOARD REPLIES.
Reasons Why the school inspectors
Awarded the Late Troublesome

Reasons Why the school inspectors
Awarded the Late Troublesome
yentilatins Contracts rs it Did.
When the report of the committee on
manufactures, on the subject of heating
and ventilating certain school buildings,
came I'D iii the chamber of commerce yes
terday movning tie following communion
ton from the board of education, signed by
the president and all the other members,
except three. was read:
In reply 10 Il communication received from
your secretary regarding the award of con-
tracts for the ventilation of the Madison,
Jefferson and Lincoln school buildings we
would submit the following: We do not al
ways advertise for bids, as the rules OF the
board do not require il. Circular letters are
sent to every one known to be engaged in the
ventilatiug and heating b usiness, both in St.
Paul and other cities,a copy of which is here
with attached. This circular was issued on
Nov Is. 1885, and up to the dste when the
contracts were awarded, March q, 1887, q
period Of over four months. No proposition
had been received from any firm, excepting
the Exhaust Venrilator company of Chicago
Consequently the board of education thought
no further advertisement necessary. We
further state that opportunity was given to
all alike to submit plans and proposals to
the committee on real estate, and
no discrimination was made against
81. Paul InanuIacEuterS. we WaHleu
the best ventilation that could be
got for our schools. We are entirely salts
ned that we shall get it in this instance, and
we do not believe the price to be unreason-
able. We did not care TO assume the reSpon-
sibility of experimenting with firms who have
had no experience in mechanical ventilation,
so far as we know, and who failed to refer us
to any buildings where such appliances had
been introduced by them, when we could Sc
sure work by parties who had given us per-
feet satisfaction in the Franklin school build
Ing. In the case of the Exhaust Ventilator
company. Of Chicago. eight-teuths of the ell
tire sum to be paid for the contract will be
paid to St. Paul merchants, mechanics and
iaborers. The board of education has at all
times given preference to home contractors
and in many cases have awarded them con-
tracts g at larger figures than the work
could be done for by outside parties
1t is impossible for the board to satisfy every
one who may bid for work, and while they re-
greet the fact that their acts have been criti-
cised in the award of this contract to the Ex-
haust Ventilator company, they are satisfied
they did what was for the best, and have no
regret for their action. We would respect
fully suggest that before the chamber of com
merce eensures lhe board of education for its
action in this matter, that the members visit
the Franklin school and see for themselves
what has boon accomplished in the way of in
Producing pure air into our school buildings
Signed - R. Schifman, president; ]. NJ.
Minor, P. J. Giesen. A. 6. Postlethwaite
William Berlaudi, H. II. Athey, l.. j. Dobner
L. A. Gilbert Fl. Schumacher, j. NJ. Curtis.
WILL EXAMINE THE SYSTEM.
There was some question raised as to
what should be done with the original re-
port in connection with the communication
from the board. Mr.. Nichols, the chair
man, who made the original report. made a
brief explanation in regard to it, and the
whole matter of the report and the commu-
nication was then referred back to the COM
mittee, on motion of Mr.. Murray. to give
the committee an opportunity to examine
the work of the Chicago Exhaust Ventilator
company at the Franklin school building.
On motion of Gen. Bishop the committee
was requested to report the expense per
month of ventilating the Franklin school
since the new apparatus was put in opera
ton, OF if that cannot be determined separ-
ately to report the cost of heating
and ventilating that building, and for
comparison. the cost OF heating
and ;Yentilating, such as it is, in the old
way. of some other school building, as
nearly equal in size as may be.
In this connection it may be stated that
Mr.. Postlethwate exhibited at the close of
the meeting the following statement which
shows the per centage of sickness in the
four schools named, since September last
seven months. During these seven months
this exhaust ventilating system has been in
operation in the Franklin and not in tine
other three schools: